Cross-linked esters of maleic anhydrides-styrene copolymer and method for preparation



United States aren't O CROSS-LINKED ESTERS F MALEIC ANHY- DREDES-STYRENE COPOLYMER AND METH- 0D FOR PREPARATION John {3. Sellers, Nixon, N. 5., assignor to Johnson'& Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application September 16, 1953 Serial No. 380,593

5 Claims. (Cl. 260-785) This invention relates to adhesives and, in preferred embodiments, to compositions which may be used as pressure-sensitive adhesives. -More particularly, it relates to esterified copolymers of maleic anhydride and styrene which are cross-linked by heating'in the presence of added peroxide polymerization catalyst. Corresponding copolymer esters which are cross-linked by reaction with a polyvalent metal oxide or with a poly- .ydric alcohol are claimed in divisional applications, Serial Numbers 758,886 and 758,887, filed September 4, 1958.

In manufacture of known adhesives it has been necessary to compound several ingredients in order to arrive at an acceptable formulation. In manufacture of tape, notably transparentpressuresensitive tapes, or tapes used for surgical purposes, it has been the usual practice to compound together, for example on a heated mill equal parts of an elastomer, a tackifier and a pigment or filler. It has further been found necessary to add a substantial amount of plasticizer in order to provide the desired plastic properties and to permit the adhesive to be' readily applied to the backing. An additional ingredient, nearly always found necessary, is a stabilizer, e. g. an antioxidant, which tends to impart resistance to aging conditions such as air, heat and sunlight. The compounding of these various ingredients itself has constituted a significant problem since ithas been necessary to mix them on a pair of rolls which is a time-consuming and expensive operation. "With so many ingredients, variations in supply and quality of raw materials has been found to give rise to serious didiculty. The elastomerand the tackifier are particularly susceptible to these circumstances. Even after obtaining the compounded adhesive, ones v.difficulties were not always finally resolved. It has frequently been impractical to obtain the degree of tack and tensile strength in the end product adhesive since these variables are difiicult to control and frequently could not be controlled to the extent nor within the range desired. Migration of the plasticizer from the adhesive composition into surrounding areas or to adjacent films or layers has also been the cause of considerable difficulty.

Objects and advantages of the present invention are solution of problems which arise by reason of the above listed disadvantages in prior art adhesives. One object is to produce an adhesive having high stick properties which does not require the presence of a tackifier and in particular, an adhesive which may becompounded to stick to an unprimed ceilulosic film such as ethyl. cellulose or cellulose acetate. A further advantage of the invention is that compounds have been discovered which may be so constituted that they will have plasticity and other properties variable over 'a wide range, but reproducible and-controllable by the method of preparation. Another object of the invention is to provide compounds which have 'hig'h'tcnsile strength and approach water-whiteness so that they may be used pressure-sensitive commercial transparent tapes.

#tape backing.

Lhimdzb Patented Jan. 213%, 1 59 Still another object of the invention is to provide, according to one form of the invention, an adhesive compound Which may be used, preferably without plasticizer, and will be stable, that is, resistant to aging conditions such as heat, sunlight and air without the need for a stabilizer.

The adhesive compounds of the present invention are certain esters of maleic anhydride-styrene copolymers. Compounds possessing peculiarly valuable adhesive prop erties according to the invention are such copo-lymers esterified to the extent of at least of the total potential'carboxyl content with a primary aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, inclusive. A further aspect of the invention is provision of adhesives which have a low degree of cold flow as more fully explained hereinafter. The inventionis also directed to themethod of preparing these compounds and their use in certain articles such as tapes, surgical dressings, and other articles having a supporting surface with a layer of the invention adhesive coated thereon.

An important advantage of the invention is the provision of adhesives which may be cured to an insoluble, solvent-resistant, heat-resistant material and still remain pressure-sensitive. In marked contrast to prior art adhesives, which generally will stick to themselves tenaciously but to other objects with relatively little force, the invention adhesive is characterized by tenacious adhesion to other objects such as the human skin, but relatively little adhesion to itself. Hence, adhesive tape made from-the invention adhesive will not stick to itself to the degree that separation is prevented without disruption of the mass or undue deformationof the v The styrene-maleic anhydride polymers of the invention are prepared by catalytic copolymerization of the monomers in a solvent, preferably a nonaqueous solvent such as xylene or benzene in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen. Approximatelyequimolecular amounts of the monomers are 'first dissolved in the solvent. A slight-excess of styrene may be employed. The solution is then heated to reaction temperature which is in the range above about 40 C. to the boiling point of the solution, and maintained at this level until the reaction has progressed to completion. At higher'temperatures, of course, the reaction proceeds at a faster rate. It has been found that the reaction rate maybe best-controlled at temperatures in the range 40 to C., and hence this temperature range is preferred. If desired, the reaction rate may be effectively controlled at higher temperature levels by adding the styrene and catalyst stepwise.

"The molecular weight of the maleic anhydride-styrene polymer is controlled by controlling primarily threevariables, i. e. the temperature, the catalyst concentration and the solvent utilized for carrying out the polymerization. Higher temperatures tend to produce low molecular Weight polymers and, conversely, low temperatures tend to produce higher molecular 'weight'copolymers. A peroxide catalyst, such as benzoyl peroxide, which is soluble in the solvent medium is added to catalyze-the reaction, which is a chain type. There is a tendency on the part of the solvent to interfere to a degree with the polymerization, that is, to combine with the free radical which promotes reaction, and thereby terminate reaction at the point at which the polymerization has progressed on a particular chain. This interference on the part of the solvent has been designated by an index known as the transfer constant, a term proposed and defined by Mayo, Journal of the American Chemical Society, vol. 65 (1-943 pages 2324 to 2329. Solvents having a low transfer constant exhibit relatively slight tendency to interfere with chain-reaction type polymerization, .and

zone is an example of this type solvent. Larger amounts of catalyst produce lower molecular weight polymers. On the other hand, solvents having a relatively high constant tend to have high degree of interference withthe polymerization, and catalyst concentration is less important. Xylene is an example of the latter type solvent. The low constant solvents tend to produce higher molecular weight polymers, and the higher constant solvents tend to produce lower molecular weight polymers. However, the use of higher constant solvent such as xylene is not precluded where high molecular weight polymers are desired since the tendency of the xylene to lower the molecular weight may be counteracted to some exture of 70 C. is. attained. At this point 0.85 gm. of

benzoyl peroxide catalyst are added and the 70 C. tem-v perature and stirring continued until reaction is complete. The polymer precipitates as it is formed. The mixture of polymer and solvent produced may be used for preparation of polymer ester as such by adding appropriate .amounts of alcohol, antioxidant and esterification catalyst as indicated below, or the polymer and solvent may be separated by filtration prior to esterifying the polymer. Since the styrene is used in molar excess no appreciable amounts of unreacted maleic anhydride will remain after polymerization. Any possible small amounts of polystyrene will be removed from the system during purification following esterification.

Attempts to polymerize maleic ester with styrene have suffered from the tendency of the ester and styrene to polymerize in ratios other than that sought for according to the present invention. Further, it is difficult to obtain the high molecular weights and plasticities which are important properties of the invention pro-ducts. Hence, the invention products are preferably made by using the maleic anhydride as monomer, rather than an ester thereof.

The index of polymer molecular weight is the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer. This is measured by preparing a dilute solution of the polymer in cyclohexanone as solvent, and carrying out intrinsic viscosity measurement at 30 C. according to known procedure. For example, a cyclohexanone solution of the polymer having 1 gram of polymer per 100 cc. of solution is prepared, and several dilutions ofthis solution, e. g. to 0.7 gram per 100 cc. and 0.5 gram per 100 cc., are made. Flow times are then measured at 30 C. on a general purpose Ostwald viscosimeter pipette having a capillary about 0.5 mm. in

diameter and a length of about cm. The relative viscosity at each concentration is calculated. Relative viscosity is the ratio of the flow time of the resin solution to the flow time of the solvent. Specific viscosity is defined as the relative viscosity minus one. Reduced specific viscosity is defined as the specific viscosity divided by the concentration in grams per 100 ml. of solution. A plot is made of reduced specific viscosity vs. concentraiion and the straight line so obtained is extrapolated to zero concentration. The value of the reduced specific viscosity at zero concentration is known as the intrinsic viscosity.

The polymer molecular Weight as measured by intrinsic viscosity exerts a notable and important effect upon the properties of the final ester adhesive, as will appear more clearly below. High molecular weight polymers tend to produce adhesives having higher plasticity, and low molecular weight polymers tend to produce adhesives having low plasticity. Suitable polymers are those having viscosities within the approximate range 0.2-2.0, while preferred polymers have viscosities within the an proximate range 0.4-1.0. The factor of plasticity and its effect upon properties of the adhesive is gone into more fully below whereupon the importance of controlling the polymer viscosity will be appreciated.

Both the styrene and the maleic anhydride tend to polymerize with the other monomer rather than with it-- self, and hence the ratio of monomers in the copolymer is about one to one. There is, however, a relatively slight but notable tendency of the styrene to polymerize with: itself. Hence, the molar ratio of the styrene to maleic anhydride is slightly greater than one, i. e. about 1.2 mols of styrene to 1.0 of maleic anhydride.

The particular alcohol used to .esterify the polymer ester has an important effect upon the properties, such as plasticity, of the final adhesive produced. Ten carbon: atom alcohols produce adhesives having lowest plasticity, i. e. the softest adhesives. As alcohol molecular weight is decreased below n-decyl alcohol the tendency is to pro duoe adhesives which are harder, i. e. have a higher plasticity. As alcohol molecular weight is increased above 10, the polymer esters again increase in plasticity. The choice of alcohol is a convenient variable which may be employed in producing an adhesive having the particular sought-for properties in any case. Generally, satisfactory adhesives may be prepared from primary monohydric aliphatic alcohols having 6 to '16 carbon atoms inclusive. These may be either straight or branch chain alcohols. The straight chain alcohols are, however, preferred since they tend to produce softer and tackier adhesives, thereby giving more latitude in manufacture of an adhesive having specific sought-for properties. The lower carbon atom and the high carbon atom alcohols within the broad range may find particular utility as laminating adhesives since they tend to be harder. However, as indicated above, it is an important advantage of the invention to manufacture pressure-sensitive adhesives which do not require use of plasticizers or tackifiers. Alcohols having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, inclusive, are therefore preferred for manufacture of pressuresensitive adhesives since the degree of softness and pins ticity of adhesives obtained by use of alcohols within this range is such that tackifiers and plasticizers may be dispensed with. Normal decyl alcohol and lauryl alcohol are preferred materials for manufacture of adhesives according to the invention. Another very suitable alcohol is known as CPS 224, a product of Enjay Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. Other satisfactory alco hols for manufacture of pressuresensitive adhesives are n-octyl, n-nonyl, branch chain dccyl, and n-undecyl alcohols.

The percentage of esterification of the copolymers is another factor having an important eifect upon the adhesives. Percent esterification" is defined as the overall percentage of total potential carboxyl groups on the polymer chains that are in the form of the ester group COOR, where R is the alkyl part of the alcohol. -Po tential ,carboxyl groups include carboxyl groups as such and groups capable of yielding the carboxyl group by hydrolysis and having the formula where X is hydrogen, alkyl, metal or carbon (e. as in the case of the anhydride) are, therefore, included. The

higher the percentage of esterification, the greater the 'ofi-cer'tain amounts of plasticizers. However, at percent esterification above about 80-85%, sufficient alcoholwill have been incorporated into the adhesive to impart softness so that addition of extraneous plasticizer is not necessary, and the adhesives will be found to be self-plasticized.

' desired cross-linking of polymer chains by reinforcing -action.

.Hence, in one embodiment of theinvention a range of esterification of particular importance is approximately 80-"85 to 95%; As previously indicated, higher percentage esterification tends to produce adhesives which are softer. However, even at esterifications approaching 100% the plasticity of the adhesive can be controlled by choice of molecular weight of alcohol and degree of polymerization of maleic anhydride-styrene copolymer. Further, the higher the esterification of the copolymer, the less is its tendency to cross-link during heating, aging, etc., and hence the greater is its stability. Adhesives approaching esterification of 100% have the outstanding advantage of optimum degree of tack. Their softness and tendency to cold flow can be controlled by methods explained below.

Reaction conditions for esterification of the polymer are important in obtaining the high percentages of esterification required according to the present invention.

The esterification reaction of the copolymer is preferably, though not necessarily, carried out in the same solvent that was used for polymerization. However, the

polymer raw material may be purchased, and dissolved in solvent rather than synthesized. A molar excess'of the desired alcohol is added to the solution together with an antioxidant and catalyst. Suitable antioxidants include 2,5 ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, 2,6 ditertiarybutyl-p-cresol, and others known in the art, while as catalysts, p-toluene sulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid,

"sulfuric acid, and many others are satisfactory. The solution is then boiled and water of esterification removed until reaction is substantially complete. The completeness of the reaction is observed by the rate of removal of water and when this rate becomes insignificant the reaction is considered as being substantially complete. Hydrocarbons, preferably aromatic hydrocarbons boiling above 100 C. are suitable solvents. Using diethyl benzene as a solvent (boiling point 182 C.) completion of the reaction may occur in about 70 minutes. With xylene (B. P. 139-144 C.)the reaction may take 6 to 8 hours, while with toluene (B. P. 1l0.6C.) 12 or more hours may be required for substantially complete 'esterification. The concentration of esterification catalyst has considerable effect upon the rate of reaction. After the esterification reaction has progressed to the desired degree the reaction is terminated by cooling the reaction mass.

Various procedures may be used for-recovering the adhesive from the solution. For example, .the reaction mass after esterification may be placed in a vessel fitted with a mechanical agitator and an outlet at the bottom. -Methanl may then be added, with stirring, until the ester jus precipitates sufiiciently to form 'two distinct layers upon being allowed to settle. The ester is drawn off from the bottom of the flask. The methanol layer, containing impurities, may be treated to recover solvents, as 'by distillation. The ester is put back into the vessel and just enough toluene or benzene added to redissolve it. Again, methanol is added until the ester just precipitates. It is allowed to settle, and again separated from the methanol layer. This procedure is repeated :twice more. At this point the ester will have acquireda very light yellow color.

Generally a total amount of methanol equal -to only one-half the volume of original ester solution is required for purification.

An alternative procedure for recovering adhesive which is 90-95% or more esterified is to pour the reaction mass after cooling into a sufficient amount of acetone to cause precipitation of the polymer. The liquid is decanted and the polymer is washed with small amounts of acetone. The polymer at this stage will be almost water-white.

The polymer solution after purification may be treated with a small amount, i. e. 2%, of an antioxidant stabilizer such as 2,5 ditertiarybutylhydroquinone to stabilize the less completely esterified polymers during drying, since less completely esterified copolymers may tend to crosslink when heated without antioxidant. The solution is then evaporated on a steam bath and the semi-dried polymer is dried in a vacuum chamber at 100 C. and 15 inches of mercury absolute pressure.

Polymer ester plasticity is a key property determining its suitability for use in various types of adhesives. The plasticity should be high enough to afford adequately high tensile strength and low enough so that it can be successfully worked'and calendered or spread onto the sheet. .Plasticity is measured on a cylindrical pellet of adhesive mass 16 mm. in diameter and weighing 2.00 grams by placing the pellet on a parallel plate plastometer, otherwise known as a Williams plastometer, of the type manufactured, for example, by the Scott Instrument Company, and maintaining the pellet and surroundings at 100 F. and under a 5000 gram load, and noting the height of the pellet after 14 minutes. This height in millimeters is taken as a measurement of plasticity. Fjor invention purposes, polymer esters having plasticity ,so low as to be outside the range of accurate measurement I on the instrument may be satisfactory. Methods are available to increase plasticity, as will be explained below. The desired plasticity is obtained, as implied above, by controlling viscosity of the copolymer (high viscosities tend toproduce high plasticities), controlling the alcohol used for esterification (alcohols having 8 to 12 carbon atoms tend to produce adhesives having low plasticities), and controlling the degree of esterification (high esterification tends to produce low plasticity). On the other hand, adhesives which have higher plas'ticities, that is, above the range of those which may be used unplasticized as pressure-sensitive adhesives, may be used as laminating adhesives unplasticized or may be made usable as pressure-sensitive adhesives by incorporating suitable amounts of plasticizer. However, adhesives in the plasticity range substantially above 4.0 mm. are substantially less advantageous when plasticized for use as pressure-sensitive adhesives since they may lack the .necessary cohesive strength. Itis generally endeavored to produce adhesives .aving plasticities not substantially above 4.0 mm. The preferred range'of plasticity is in the approximate region 0.7-3.0 mm., since within this range polymer esters have plasticity such that no plasticizer is necessary to produce adhesive masses having a high degree of tack and pressure-sensitivity.

As indicated above, there is a tendency on the part of certain of the invention adhesives to exhibit some cold how, that is, lack' of body, and susceptibility to plastic fi W over long periods oftime when under stress. This phenomenon may be overcome by cross-linking the poly I dioxide or aluminum hydrate. The metallic oxide compound in any case may be dispersed 'in the adhesives in a ballmill or paint mill, or can be mixed on the rolls.

The controlling factor in formation of reinforcing bonds is the percentage free, i. e. nnesterified, carboxyl groups in Above about 95% esterification the polymer esters are relatively immune to cross-linking by formation of reinforcing bonds.

Another convenient way of imparting resistance to cold flow to a polymer ester is to incorporate an adequate 'amount of a copolymerester adhesive which has previously beencross-linked, either by the reinforcing bond formation as' previously described or by peroxide reaction, described below, since such gelled materials are quite compatible with the adhesive.

The alternative and preferred manner of effecting polymer cross-linking is to carry out a chain type reaction by addition of a free radical type polymerization catalyst, e. g. a peroxide catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide, dichloro benzoyl peroxide, ditertiary butyl peroxide, etc. This is accomplished by adding to the purified solution of adhesive ester in a solvent such as toluene an amount of the benzoyl peroxide cross-linking catalyst in the range 0.1 to 10% based on the ester, heating the solution to remove solvent, heating the residue at about 100 C. for time to accomplish cross-linking which will generally be in the range to 60 minutes, and then terminating the crosslinking reaction by heating until all peroxide has been decomposed, e. g. overnight, at 100 C. in the case of benzoyl peroxide.

An index of the degree of cross-linking is gel content, which may be determined as follows. 0.4 gm. of adhesive is mixed with 100 cc. of benzene and allowed to stand without stirring for 48 hours'at 30 C. The mixture is then poured through a standard stainless steel wire screen of 100 mesh. 25 cc. of the filtrate are evaporated to dryness at 100 C. and the residue is weighed. The gel content is taken as 100 minus the percentage of the original sample of adhesive which dissolved. High gel content, of course, reflects high degree of cross-linkage. Further, the degree of cross-linking required in order to reduce cold flow to the sought-for levels specified below will be determined to a large extent by the plasticity of the ester, low plasticity polymer esters requiring generally more cross-linking than high plasticity esters. From the standpoint of sufficient cross-linking to reduce cold flow to acceptable levels, even for the higher plasticity esters,

minimum gel content of about is desirable for material cross-linked either in the first instance or by addition of previously cross-linked ester. Where consistent with maximum plasticity limitations, gel content of invention products may be as high as 100%;

If the occasion requires, cross-linking may be effected by both metal oxide and peroxide action. In 'place of a peroxideany of the cross-linking agents employed as rubher-curing agents, i. e. those which operate by a free radical mechanism, may be utilized.

The property of cold flow may be measured by sticking a ball of the adhesive weighing 3.0 grams against a vertical glass plate and noting the downward flow in inches due to gravity for a period of 24 hours at room temperature. Particularly suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives of the invention are those which are cross-linked to the extent that cold flow is not greater than 2% inches as measured by this standard method.

- Although styrene has been used above to exemplify the t the type of monomer which may be utilized to makethe polymer and thence-the polymer ester according to the invention, by replacing the styrene with another compound having a benzene ring substituted with a vinyl sidechain, i. e. a ring-substituted styrene, such as methyl sty- In the case rene (vinyl toluene), adhesives having similar pressuresensitive properties may be produced. Hence, the invention products include esters of maleic acid-ring substituted styrene copolymer having the foregoing properties.

The advantages of the invention composition are especially outstanding in respect to adhesiveness, particularly pressure sensitivity. However, the novel compositions of the invention possess other advantageous properties which render them suitable for other applications. For example, by cross-linking the products, one may-obtain a bonding material which is insoluble in solvents and resistant to elevated temperature, and hence is suitable for manufacture of plywood or glass fiber laminates. Certain of the invention products may be incorporated in coatings as curing resins. They possess unusually strong adhesion to glass and metal, good gloss, and can be cured by baking with a free radical type catalyst. At temperatures below that of pressure sensitivity the invention products are also applicable to injection molding where curing is desired.

Among the outstanding advantages of the invention products is their ability to stick to unprimed film, e. g. cellulosic films such as ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, or (when cross-linked) to regenerated cellulose. The adresive compounds further have the property of sticking to unprimed films of polyvinyl chloride resin, and polyethylene glycol terephthalic acid film which is marketed by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company under the trademark Mylar. v

The following examples are presented as illustrating rather than limiting the scope of the invention. Parts and percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise specified.

Example I maleic anhydride solution dropwise at such a rate so as to maintain temperature of the reaction at 80 C. Polymerization commenced after about 7 minutesas evidenced by the precipitation of copolymer from the solution. Polymerization conditions were maintained 'for 3 hours after all styrene had been added. The copolymer was in the form of a thick suspension. The reaction mixture was filtered, washed with benzene, and dried. Intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer was 0.91 as measured in cyclohexanone at 30 C. The copolymer, which weighed 240 gms., was placed in a five liter flask fitted with an azeotropic trap and stirrer together with 3.1 mols (485 gms.) of n-decanol, 23 gms. based on the weight of copolymer plus alcohol of p-toluene sulfonic acid, 38 gms.-of 2.5-ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 1000 cc. of xylene. The mixture was heated to boiling whereupon the coploymer Went into solution. Refluxing was continued for 8 hours, after which the rate at which the water was being collected in the trap was very slow. 22 cc. of water had been collected. Thereaction mass was cooled and placed in'a vessel having a mechanical stirrer and outlet at the bottom. Just enough methanol was added to cause precipitation. The ester was permitted to settle, and was separated from the methanol which was recoverable by distillation. The ester was replaced in the vessel and just enough benzene added to dissolve it. Again the ester was precipitated by addition of methanol, and the ester was separated. The ester was dissolved and precipitated in this manner two additional times. It was finally separated and placed in an evaporating dish. ,After evaporating off most of the methanol from the ester it was dried at C. and. 15 in. of mercury absolute pressure. The product was extremely tacky and had plasticity of 1.11 mm. Yield was-.425 gms. or 85% of theory. Percent esterification was calculated to be about 97% based on the amount of water collected in the azeotropic trap. Adhesive masses for use as surgical adhesives may be made by milling the polymer ester with 40 to 50% of zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or aluminum hydrate, etc. Alternatively, the masses may be cross-linked according to the peroxide procedure described above and exemplified in Example VIII. These masses are spread on primed vinyl film, cloth, or waterproof cloth. Aging tests indi cate the mass to retain most of its initial tack for at least 10 months at 120 F.

Example II 203 parts of maleic anhydride and 2150 parts of xylene were placed in the flask described in Example I. The mixture was brought to 70 C. while stirring and passing nitrogen continuously through the flask. 252 parts of styrene in which had been dissolved 1.75 parts of benzoyl peroxide were added to the maleicanhydride solution dropwise to maintain reaction temperature at 70 C. Polymerization commenced after about minutes as evidenced by precipitation of copolymer. After 3 hours reaction time the mixture was filtered, washed with benzene and dried. Intrinsic viscosity asmeasured in cyclohexanone at 30 C. was 0.63. The copolymer consisting of 413 parts was placed in a flask fitted with an azeotro-pic trap as described in Example I together with 800 parts of n-decanol, 31.5 parts of p-toluene sulfonic acid, 52.5 parts of 2.5-ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 1200 parts of xylene. Esterification was carried out as described in Example I for 12 hours. After 38.5 parts ofwater had been collected, the rate of collection had become very small. The reaction mass was cooled, placed in a separatory vessel as described in Example I, and mixed with just enough methanol to cause precipitation. The ester was separated and redissolved in benzene, followed by reprecipitation and separation. The ester was dissolved and reprecipitated in this manner two additional times, after which it was separated and dried as in Example I. The polymer ester was found to be extremely tacky and to have plasticity of 0.90, yield being 880 parts or 84% of theory. Percent esterification was calculated to be in the range 90 to 95%. 20% Zinc oxide and 5% titanium dioxide were compounded together with 75% polymer ester in a ball mill. The compounded mass was rubbery and had no cold flow. Its plasticity was 2.54, indicating cross-linking. It was heated in an oven for days at 100 C. after which treatment the plasticity was found tobe 3.3.

Example III 51 parts styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having intrinsic viscosity of 0.52 were placed in an esterification apparatus fitted with an azeotropic trap and a mechanical stirrer together with 78 parts of n-octyl alcohol, 5 parts p-toluene sulfo-nic acid, 6.5 parts 2,5-ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 172 parts xylene. The mixture was refluxed for Ghours, after which 5.1 parts of water had been collected, and the reaction was considered to be substantially complete as evidenced by substantial cessation of liberation of water. The reaction mass was cooled and poured into about twice its volume of acetone whereupon the ester precipitated. The ester was separated, dissolved in toluene, precipitated with acetone, decanted and washed with acetone. The polymer ester was almost water-white at this stage. The wet precipitate was semi-dried on a steam bath, and dried'in a vacuum drier at 100 C. and in. mercury absolute pressure. The dried polymer was almost water-white, was extremely tacky and had plasticity of 1.81.

III there were placed 46 parts of styrene-maleic an- 10' hydride copolymer, intrinsic viscosity 0.81, parts of a mixture of alcohols containing a high proportion of branch chains decyl alcohols known in the trade as CPS 224, a product of Enjay, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, 4.5 parts p-toluene sulfonic acid, 7.5 parts 2,Srditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 172 parts xylene. The mixture was refluxed for 6 hours, after which 5.7 parts had been collected, and reaction cornpletion was evidenced by substantial cessation of water liberation. The reaction mass was cooled and poured into about twice its volume of acetone whereupon the ester precipitated. The ester was reprecipitated from toluene by acetone addition, and washed with acetone. The product was almost water-white at this stage. After drying the polymer was found to be extremely tacky and to have a plasticity of 2.0. Yield was 97 parts which was equivalent to 85 of theory. Percent esterification was 92%.

Example V Example IV was repeated using 101 parts copolymer having intrinsic viscosity 0.67, 123 parts-n-hexyl alcohol, 6.8 parts p-toluene sulfonic acid, 11.2 parts 2,5-ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 258 parts xylene. Esterification was continued until substantially complete, and the dried polymer recovered as described in the previous examples.

The product had plasticity of 3.56. It was not tacky at room temperature but was extremely tacky when plasticized with 25% mineral oil or when heated to C.

Example VI Example VII 808 parts of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, intrinsic viscosity 0.47, were placed in an esterificatio-n apparatus as described in Example EV, together with 1520 parts n-decanol, parts of 2,5-ditertiarybutylhydroquinone, and 2750 parts of xylene. The mixture was heated to boiling, refluxed, and water was removed in an azeotropic trap. 10 samples of polymer were removed from the flask at intervals, and the amount of water collected at the time of removal of eachsarnple was noted. Percent esterifications were calculated for each sample, and the polymer esters were recovered and purified according to the procedure described in the foreg ing examples. Characteristics of the samples were as follows:

Percent Reaction time esterifi- Elastic Appearance cation ty, mm

15m n 0 i 61. 6 Hard, brittle, not. tacky, not

tacky when plasticlzed.

1 hour 74.5 Hard, brittle, not tacky, tacky when plasticized, somewhat fexible.

1 hour, 30 rn1n.. 82. 7 High Hard, brittle, not tacky at room temp rature, tat-xv when plas' tlci a more flexible.

2 hours 85. 9 High Hard, flexible, not tacky at r'oom .Eergperature, tacky when plasic e 3% hours 90.5 1.83 Hgrd, tacky at room temperaure.

4 hours 91.7 1.32 Tacky.

4% hours. 92. 7 1.19 Do.

51 hours 94. 2 0. 98 Do.

6% hours M 95. 5 0.86 Very tacky.

73 hours 96. 3 0.76 Do.

.. and dried.

' 11 Example VII Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer. intrinsic viscosity 0.67, was esterified with n-decyl alcohol according to the procedure described in the foregoing examples. Water was removed from the azeotropic trap and degree of esterification was about 95%. The polymer ester was recovered, reprecipitated, washed and dried. The product was found to be extremely tacky and have plasticity of 0.70. The polymer ester was dissolved in benzene to concentration of about 25% ester. The solution was divided into 5 portions. To the 5 portions there were added 5%, 1%, /2%, and respectively, benzoyl peroxide based on the weight of polymer ester in the so lution. The solutions were then heated to remove solvent, and the residue was heated for 3 hours at 100 C.

Measurements of gel content, plasticity and cold how were made on the several samples, and the results of the tests are tabulated below:

Cold Portion N 0. Percent Percent Plastteflow,

peroxide gel ity inches 5 94. 5 3. 25 None 1 76. 0 2 18 None Any of the adhesives made according to the foregoing examples may be utilized by applying them to an adesive-supporting surface, plasticized where necessary, or they may be cross-linked to impart resistance to cold flow, and applied to an adhesive supporting surface.

Example IX An n-decyl ester of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having 0.90 plasticity and 90 to 95% esterification (9 hours esterification in xylene solvent, p-toluene sulfonic acid catalyst), and prepared from copolymer having viscosity 0.44, was compounded (70%) with zinc oxide (25%) and titanium dioxide (5%). The compounding was carried out on a ball mill after which plasticity was found to be 1.95, indicative of cross-linking. The material was heated in an oven at 100 C. for one month, after which the plasticity was measured and found to be 2.2. Another sample of the same material, with the exception that it was esterified for 12 hours and had plasticity of 0.75 and esterification above 95%, was compounded with the same amounts and types of pigments. The mass had plasticity of 0.90, indicating absence of cross-linking. The mass was heated in an oven at 100 C. and was found to undergo no appreciable increase in plasticity.

Example XI mol maleic anhydride and xylene solvent at 80 .C. in the presence of 1.2 gms. benzoyl peroxide in the polymerization apparatus described in Example I. Polymerization was substantially complete within one hour. The precipitated copolymer was filtered, washed with benzene, intrinsic viscosity was 0.8. Yield was 136 was dried at C. Plasticity was 1.30. The tack of the polymer ester was comparable to the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer decyl esters prepared according to the foregoing examples. Yield was 216 gms. or 84% of theory based on the weight of copolymer. Percent esterification was 90-95%.

Although certain of the foregoing examples specify the use of an anti-oxidant during esterification, under some conditions an anti-oxidant is not required. Specifically, when the viscosity of the copolymer is less than one, antioxidant may be dispensed with without incurring undesirable degree of gelling, i. e. cross-linking during esterification.

Another group of cross-linking agents are the diand tri-hydroxy alcohols such as the glycols (e. g. ethylene and propylene glycols and condensation products thereof such as diethylene and dipropylene glycols, etc.) and glycerol. For example, a benzene solution of the ndecanol styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer ester prepared according to Example VII, uncross-linked, 96% esterified, plasticity 0.76 mm., is mixed with diethylene glycol in weight amount equal to the copolymer ester (a substantial molar excess based on unesterified carboxyl groups) and 2% p-toluene sulfonic acid based on polymer ester, in a beaker and heated with stirring to C. as benzene evaporates. Heating is continued for /2 hour. The beaker contents are then poured into methanol. The cross-linked material precipitates, and is reprecipitated several times from benzene with methanol to purify. A convenient variation is to add the polyhydric alcohol directly to the copolymer esterification reaction mixture and continue heating until the desired amount of crosslinking occurs (about 2 hours) as just described. Plasticity is 1.98 mm. Cold flow is 0.5 inch.

A remarkable feature of the invention is the capacity of the cross-linked polymer esters to stick very tightly to what are generally considered to be stick-resistant surfaces such as glass. A particularly notable property of the invention materials, when cross-linked, is their ability to stick very tightly even to polyethylene. On the other hand, the uncross-linked polymer esters are notable for their-tendency to stick only to skin, while having minimum adhesion to such other objects and minimum adhesion to themselves.

It will be apparent that other modifications may be made and equivalents substituted within the scope of the invention. Hence, the invention is not limited to the illustrations presented.

What is claimed-is:

1. An adhesive composition adapted to stick to unprimed polyvinylchloride resin film to provide an adhesive layer surface which is characterized by tenacious adhesion to other objects including human skin but relatively little adhesion to itself, whereby upon contact of two portions of the adhesive surface they will not adhere to each other to such an extent that upon their separation from each other there is disruption of the adhesive mass and undue deformation of the film backing, said composition comprising an ester of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and a vinyl compound selected from the group consisting of styrene and vinyl toluene copolymerized in approximately equimolecular proportions, the copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity in the approximate range of 0.2 to 2.0 as measured in cyclohexanone at 30 C., at least 70% of the potential carboxyl groups present in the anhydride groups in said copolymer being esterified with an aliphatic primary monohydric saturated alcohol having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said ester having been heated in the presence of added peroxide polymerization catalyst to provide a gel content in the range of 10 to 100% by weight, the plasticity of said composition being not greater than about 4.0 mm. and the cold flow of said composition being not greater than 2.5 inches, said gel content being 100 minus the percent of the adhesive composition which is removed from 0.4 gram of the adhesive composition by mixing it with 100 cc. of benzene, allowing the mixture to stand Without stirring for 48 hours at 30 C., then filtering the mixture through a stainless steel wire screen of 100 mesh and separating the residue from cc. of the filtrate by evaporating this filtrate to dryness at 100 C., said plasticity being the height of a cylindrical pellet of the composition weighing 2.0 grams and having an initial diameter of 16 mm. placed on a parallel plate plastomcter and maintained at 100 F. under a load of 5000 grams measured at the end of a 14 minute period, said cold flow being measured by sticking a ball of the adhesive weigh ing 3.0 grams against a vertical glass plate and measuring the downward flow thereof at room temperature at the end of a 24 hour period.

2. A composition of claim 1 wherein the vinyl compound is styrene and the alcohol is n-decanol.

3. A composition of claim 1 wherein the vinyl compound is vinyl toluene and the alcohol is n-decanol.

4. A method of preparing the composition of claim 1 which comprises forming a solution of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and a vinyl compound selected from the group consisting of styrene and vinyl toluene copolymerized in approximately equimolecular proportions in a non-aqueous solvent, the copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity in the approximate range of 0.2 to 2.0 as measured in cyclohexanone at C., incorporating in said solution an aliphatic primary monohydric saturated alcohol having 6 to 16 carbon atoms together with an esterification catalyst and an antioxidant, and heating the resulting solution to esterification temperatures with removal of water of esterification from the system until at least 70% of the potential carboxyl groups present in the anhydride groups in said copolymer are esterified, recovering the resulting ester from the solution, adding a peroxide polymerization catalyst thereto and heating to provide the gel content of 10 to 100%.

5. An adhesive product comprising an adhesive-supporting surface coated with an adhesive composition adapted to stick to unprimed polyvinylchloride resin film to provide an adhesive layer surface which is characterized by tenacious adhesion to other objects including human skin but relatively little adhesion to itself, whereby 14 upon contact of two portions of the adhesive surface they will not adhere to each other to such an extent that upon their separation from each other there is disruption of V the adhesive mass and undue deformation of the film backing, said composition comprising an ester of a copolymer of maleic anhydride and a vinyl compound selected from the group consisting of styrene and vinyl toluene copolymerized in approximately equimolecular proportions, the copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity in the approximate range of 0.2 to 2.0 as measured in cyclohexanone at 30 C., at least of the potential carboxyl groups present in the anhydride groups in said copolymer with an aliphatic primary monohydric saturated alcohol having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, said ester having been heated in the presence of added peroxide polymerization catalyst to provide a gel content in the range of 10 to by weight, the plasticity of said composition being not greater than about 4.0 mm. and the cold flow of said composition being not greater than 2.5 inches, said gel content being 100 minus the percent of the adhesive composition which is removed from 0.4 gram of the adhesive composition 'by mixing it with 100 cc. of benzene, allowing the mixture to stand Without stirring for 48 hours at 30 C., then filtering the mixture through a stainless steel wire screen of 100 mesh and separating the residue from 25 cc. of the filtrate by evaporating this filtrate to dryness at 100 C., said plas ticity being the height of a cylindrical pellet of the composition weighing 2.0 grams and having an initial diameter of 16 mm. placed on a parallel plate plastomcter and maintained at 100 F. under a load of 5000 grams measured at the end of a 14 minute period, said cold flow being measured by sticking a ball of the adhesive weighing 3.0 grams against a vertical glass plate and measuring the downward flow thereof at room temperature at the end of a 24 hour period.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 588,725 Great Britain June 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 2,870,128 January 20, 1959 John Ca Sellers It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 65, for "jus precipitates" read m just precipitates column 8, lines 23 and 24, for adreaive" read adhesive column 11 ,1 in the table, third column thereof third item, for "36 Q" read me 3600 same table, fourth column thereof, first y second and third items y for 218 read 218 0 9'7 009'? Signed and sealed this" 5th day of May 1959o (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ofiicer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN ADHESIVE COMPOSITION ADAPTED TO STICK TO UNPRIMED POLYVINYLCHLORIDE RESIN FILM TO PROVIDE AN ADHESIVE LAYER SURFACE WITH IS CHARACTERIZED BY TENACIUOUS ADHESION TO OTHER OBJECTS INCLUDING HUMAN SKIN BUT RELATIVELY LITTLE ADHESION TO ITSELF, WHEREBY UPON CONTACT OF TWO PORTIONS OF THE ADHESIVE SURFACE THEY WILL NOT ADHERE TO EACH OTHER TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT UPON THEIR SEPARATION FROM EACH OTHER THERE IS DISRUPTION OF THEADHESIVE MASS AND UNDUE DEFORMATION OF THE FILM BACKING, SAID COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN ESTER OF A COPOLYMER OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND A VINYL COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STYRENE AND VINYL TOLUENE COPOLYMERISED IN APPROXIMATELY EQUIMOLECULAR PROPORTIONS, THE COPOLYMER HAVING AN INTRINSIC VISCOSITY IN THE APPROXIMATE RANGE OF 0.2 TO 2.0 AS MEASURED IN CYCLOHEXANONE AT 30* C., AT LEAST 70% OF THE POTENTIAL CARBLIXYL GROUPS PRESENT INTHE ANHYDRIDE GROUPS IN SAID COPOLYMER BEING ESTERIFIED WITH AN ALIPHATIC PRIMARY MONOHYDRIC SATURATED ALCOHOL HAVING 6 TO 16 CARBON ATOMS, SAID ESTER HAVING BEEN HEATED IN THE PRESENCE OF ADDED PEROXIDE POLYMERIZATION CATALYST TO PROVIDE A GEL CONTENT IN THE RANGE OF 10 TO 100% BY WEIGHT, THE PLASTICITY OF SAID COMPOSITION BEING NOT GREATER THAN ABOUT 4.0 MM. AND THE COLD FLOW OF SAID COMPOSITION BEING NOT GREATER THAN 2.5 INCHES, SAID GEL CONTENT BEING 100 MINUS THE PERCENT OF THE ADHESIVE COMPOSITION WHICH IS REMOVED FROM 0.4 GRAM OF THE ADHESIVE COMPOSITION BY MIXING IT WITH 100 CC. OF BENZENE, ALLOWING THE MIXTURE TO STAND WITHOUT STIRRING FOR 48 HOURS AT 30* C., THEN FILTERING THE MIXTURE THROUGH A STAINLESS STEEL WIRE SCREEN OF 100 MESH AND SEPARATING THE RESIDUE FROM 25 CC. OF THE FILTRATE BY EVAPORATING THIS FILTRATE TO DRYNESS AT 100*C., SAID PLASTICITY BEING THE HEIGHT OF A CYLINDRICAL PELLET OF THE COMPOSITION WEIGHING 2.0 GRAMS AND HAVING AN INITIAL DIAMETER OF 16 MM. PLACED ON A PARALLEL PLATE PLASTOMETER AN MAINTAINED AT 100*F UNDER A LOAD OF 5000 GRAMS MEASURED AT THE END OF A 14 MINUTE PERIOD, SAID COLD FLOW BEING MEASURED BY STICKING A BALL OF THE ADHESIVE WEIGHING 3.0 GRAMS AGAINST A VERTICAL GLASS PLATE AND MEASURING THE DOWNWARD FLOW THEREOF AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AT THE END OF A 24 HOUR PERIOD. 